NEWSFLASH - Mbote forces assault Nbuto coastal zone (REUTERS)

MDF units advance in coastal zone

MDF artillery deploys in the beachhead

MDF Marine Commandos

From our correspondent in Abadwe

In a sudden escalation of the on-going conflict between Mbote and Nbuto, amphibious units of the Mbote Defence Force today launched a full scale landing on the Nbuto coast south of the Bagombo River. Under cover of a humanitarian military exercise, units of the MDF stormed ashore to link up with heavily armed rebel militia forces, that had earlier crossed the adjacent land border from neighbouring Wanga Wanga.

The situation on the ground is very confused but reports suggest that units of the Nbuto Force Action Rapide Territoriale have been in deployed and are ready to go into action against the MDF. At this moment in time, it appears that the FART have managed to halt any further advance inland from the beachhead by the MDF but further amphibious landings by MDF Marines seem to be highly probable.